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Arts and Culture continuous its work on the revision of the 1996 White Paper

Arts and Culture is currently looking at revising the 1996 White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage. As part of this work the department will be hosting public hearings on Wednesday, 04 November 2015 in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

The public hearings are being held in various provinces to give the public and interested parties an opportunity to contribute to the revision of the White Paper. To this end the department has hosted public hearings in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Bloemfontein and Polokwane. The collated contributions will form part of wide sector two – day’s indaba discussions scheduled to take place on 26-27 November 2015 and finally the resolutions will be presented to Parliament early next year.

The White Paper provides the key policy framework for the Department and the sector and has been used for the last 19 years. It has been a seminal document for the transformation and repositioning of the arts, culture and heritage sector broadly in the economic development. The policy has also contributed immensely in the promotion, protection and preservation of the sector including engendering social cohesion and nation building.

While this policy framework has achieved many of the objectives envisaged, new developments in the sector and in the country at large have necessitated its review. The review represents an effort to ensure that government policies respond effectively to the needs of the people.

It is for this reason that the Department of Arts and Culture invites representatives in the arts, culture and heritage sector as well as the public at large to attend the hearings to contribute in crafting a new vision for the sector. Members of the media are invited.